The Emperor looked down from the dais. "I will not ignore the Imperium's needs, but I will not disregard the realities of the human heart."
"Power is a fickle thing, none more so than psychic power. Its danger lies in its allure, in drawing one into indulgence."
"You can fight the enemy, but you cannot resist the dark temptation of the Warp."
He looked at Magnus. "To peer into the darkness, to study the void, is a path to disaster. The realm of Immaterium is filled with deceitful lies and false visions."
"Those who seek truth are deceived. False knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance."
"I have faced the beings of the Warp. I know well the secrets and horrors that lurk in the dark void."
His eyes blazed gold. "The secrets I have already shared are all there is. You should go no further."
"Those who delve into secrets they should not know will find only curses and death."
His gaze swept over Sanguinius. "I have allowed my sons to overstep for too long, and I should never have permitted them to learn of their existence."
The Emperor's eyes finally rested on Nareth. "The threat of sorcery must no longer taint the Astartes."
He declared, his voice firm, "From this day, I command all Legions to disband their Librarius departments. All Librarians are to return to their line companies, and are forbidden from ever using any psychic power again."
"Those who ignore my warning, who break their oath to me, will be my enemy."
"Destruction will fall upon them, and upon all who follow them, even to the end of all things."
Nareth's gaze was flat. 'The Lion, Guilliman, Sanguinius, Jaghatai, Corax, Vulkan, Dorn, you'll have to kill at least seven of your loyal sons.'
'Russ's wolf-pups use psychic powers too, though he'll never admit it. Ferrus, in a strict sense, does as well.
'Congratulations, Emperor! You can execute all your loyal sons and rule alone.'
Even Dorn, who had always opposed the use of psychic powers, had been forced to rely on Librarians during the Siege of Terra to fight Chaos.
The Iron Hands' use of psychic powers had always been focused on technology. Though individuals with both psychic talent and a connection to machines were rare, they did exist.
It wasn't until the 41st Millennium that Chief Librarian Lendrick activated his Mindforged Staff, much like his technomancer Miguel Questa, but the Iron Hands had always had less gifted Librarians.
Gasps of shock echoed through the amphitheater. The fourteen Chief Librarians behind Nareth lowered their heads.
"No one will be condemned for this. The purpose of this council is unity, not division."
The Emperor's gaze lingered for a moment on the two Council Lords, Lauren Visccher and Barton Drake, and the dozens of noble councilors, then he moved his mind.
Nareth felt a psychic pulse strike his mind. He did not resist, letting it pass.
"Nareth, tonight, I have something to discuss with you."
He nodded.
Boom!
Nareth turned.
Magnus had fallen.
Ahriman and the other three Magister Templi, along with Hathor Maat's Scarab Occult Terminators, surrounded him, their faces filled with panic.
"Father, what happened?"
Magnus raised a hand to his missing eye, refusing Hathor's help, and rose.
"We must leave."
"Where?" Hathor asked.
"We must return to Prospero. There is much to do, and time is short."
Nareth's gaze fell on Mortarion and Leman Russ, their heads held high, savoring their victory.
'They think they've won. Magnus is broken by the Emperor's judgment.'
'No one can imagine that only Magnus foresaw that the Emperor's most beloved son, the great Warmaster Horus Lupercal, would fall to Chaos.'
The Council of Nikaea ended with Magnus's hasty departure.
Mortarion strode out, his head high like a goat's horns, the Wolves following.
The lower councilors filed out quickly, as if afraid of being caught in a wave of blood.
Nareth remained, turning to Lauren, Barton, and Petronella. "Thank you for your support."
His gaze lingered on the fifteen unfamiliar faces. "I will remember this."
He approached the thirteen disbanded Chief Librarians, Hathor had already left with Magnus.
He said to Yesugei and the others, "We lost a battle, but not the war."
'At least you won't have to live with the guilt of having spoken for Magnus.'
Yesugei gripped his skull-topped staff. "Lord Nareth, I must return to the Great Khan at once, to report."
He walked to the downcast Thomas and clasped his shoulder.
Elikas of the Dark Angels bowed, silently donning his helmet and walking away.
Fel Zharost of the Night Lords, his vulture-like eyes fixed on Nareth, bowed and leaped back into the darkness.
Balsar Kurthuri of the Raven Guard bowed and left.
Umojen of the Salamanders, larger and stronger than any of the other Librarians, stepped before Nareth.
"Lord, we still need your fortress-class void shields. My father will repay you with forged weapons and the friendship of the Salamanders."
Nareth nodded, understanding. Their cooperation also included the research on the Saturnine-pattern Terminator's Phobian device. Which inevitably involved psychic powers.
A smile touched his lips. 'The Edict of Nikaea is as good as nothing. Even Vulkan wasn't obeying.'
"Of course," Nareth said, turning to Thomas.
"Do not worry."
Thomas's ever-open "Eyes of Mystery Prying" could detect no trace of emotion from the Black Emperor, but he found strength in the calm of that marble-like face.
"Wait with Pat and Ghurgur in the box."
"By Your will."
Nareth watched the Emperor descend from the dais, walking towards the mountain's interior. He followed.
"Nareth, what do you think of my appointment of Horus as Warmaster?"
He felt the Emperor's golden gaze upon him.
"I accept your decision, including today's."
The Emperor nodded, satisfied. "Some need praise."
"Others must be given laurels, a crown of honor, a fitting title."
"Some have no such need. I know what you need."
Nareth looked at the Emperor, a flicker of anticipation stirring.
" I have prepared a unique vessel for you. The Deus Ex."
Nareth's eyes lit up.
The Deus Ex, like Dorn's Phalanx, Typhon's Terminus Est, and the Carcharodons' Nicor, were unique vessels from the Dark Age of Technology.
Primarchs had modified Gloriana-class ships to their liking, but they were built from the same template.
The Despoiler-class was the same.
The Deus Ex was not more powerful than a Gloriana, but it had its own unique qualities. And, like the Phalanx, the Terminus Est, and the Nicor, its technology was incomprehensible and irreproducible.
'The Emperor's appeasement? He understands me. Not bad. I'm quite satisfied.'
"The Deus Ex has many peculiarities, but they are unrelated to the Warp."
"I hope you understand that there are many wonders in this world, many mysteries, beyond psychic powers and the Warp."
"As you command," Nareth said, playing along.
He had just stepped out of the box when a figure emerged from the one opposite.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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